Skip to main content

Search the SPREP Catalogue

Refine Search Results

Tags / Keywords

Language

Available Online

Tags / Keywords

Available Online

20 result(s) found.

Sort by

You searched for

  • Tags / Keywords global
    X
  • Tags / Keywords castor canadensis
    X
Invasive species removals and scale – contrasting island and mainland experience
BRB
Available Online

Adriaens, T.

,

Booy, O.

,

Mill, A.

,

Robertson, P.

,

Roy, S.

,

Shirley, M.

,

Tatayah, V.

,

Ward, A.

2019
Recent years have seen large increases in the number and size of successful invasive species eradications from islands. There is also a long history of large scale removals on larger land-masses. These programmes for mammals and terrestrial plants follow the same cost-area relationship although spanning 10 orders of magnitude in scale. Eradication can be readily defined in island situations but can be more complex on larger land-masses where uncertainties defining the extent of a population, multiple population centres on the same land-mass and ongoing risks of immigration are commonplace. The term ‘complete removal’ is proposed to describe removal from an area with ongoing eff ort to maintain the area as clear, as features in many larger scale mainland programmes. Examples of complete removal to a boundary, in patches and in habitat islands are discussed. While island eradications continue to grow in scale, new legislation such as the lists of Species of European Union Concern will also drive increasing management on larger land-masses. However, these lists include large numbers of species that are already widespread. Methods are needed to prioritise species to reflect both the risks posed and the feasibility of management, including the effects of scale on cost and effectiveness.
Eradication and control programmes for invasive mynas (Acridotheres spp.) and bulbuls (Pycnonotus spp.): defining best practice in managing invasive bird populations on oceanic islands
Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

Reynolds, S.J.

,

Saavedra Cruz, S.

2019
Invasive plants and animals inflict much damage on native species and this is particularly the case on isolated oceanic islands with high degrees of endemism. Such islands commonly are important refugia for species of high conservation value. Some of the most pervasive and potent of invasive animal species are birds of the myna (Acridotheres) and bulbul (Pycnonotus) genera that historically were introduced to isolated islands as biological control agents for the management of insect pest species that can cause considerable economic damage to agricultural crops and wider ecosystems. In this paper we consider a number of ‘successful’ eradication and control programmes targeting mynas and bulbuls. We review the locations and taxa where 17 such programmes took place and report that the common myna (Acridotheres tristis) has been the most heavily targeted species in eradication eff orts followed by the red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus). Common mynas were also at the focus of control programmes as were jungle mynas (Acridotheres fuscus) and red-vented bulbuls (Pycnonotus cafer). By far the most favoured method of eradication and control was trapping whereas mist-netting was employed rarely. We discuss ‘best practice’ in planning and executing such eradication and control programmes on oceanic islands so as to maximise their benefits to local human communities. We outline measures that must be adopted pre-, during and post-intervention in both programme types. They include adequate resourcing, local engagement and the integration of both traditional ecological knowledge and established conservation theory.
Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge. Proceedings of the international conference on island invasives 2017
Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

Curto, E.

,

Escobar, J.

,

Jusim, P.

,

Schiavini, A.

2019
A pilot project for the eradication of beavers (Castor canadensis) in Tierra del Fuego started as part of a bi-national agreement, signed between Argentina and Chile, to restore the affected environments. The project covers nine pilot areas of different landscapes and land tenures in the Argentinian part of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. We report on the results from operations in the fi rst of the pilot areas. From October 2016 to January 2017, ten trappers (named restorers for advocacy purposes) used body-grip traps, snares and an air rifle, in a first phase, which included 2,237 trapping nights and 1,168 trap-sets. Shooting eff orts were not monitored. Traps were set for 1,401 trapping-nights and caught 175 beavers at a success rate of 12.5% (captures per trap night). Snares were set for 936 snare-nights and caught 22 beavers at a success rate of 2.3%. Seven beavers were shot. Most beavers (65%) were removed during the fi rst week of trapping in the different watercourse sections. Stopping trapping for a week or more did not increase efficiency. From March to May 2017 restorers removed 24 survivors and/or reinvaders, including 10 from two previously untrapped colonies. Capture efficiency for this removal period was low for body-gripping traps but not for snares. The sex ratio of catches was 47% females to 53% males. The age structure of catches was 15% kits, 29% yearlings, 51% adults, with 4% not aged. An estimated total of 41 colonies was trapped, giving an average of 5.6 animals per colony. After nominal eradication was declared by restorers, 154 camera trapping nights were deployed to assess eradication success. Nine cameras (of 26 cameras used) detected beavers. Therefore, eradication was not achieved using the methods and eff orts in the first part of the pilot study. This highlights the need for more eff ort or the application of different techniques or trapping strategies. For example, daily checking of traps may cause the animals to be cautious so, the next step in the programme will involve exploring alternative trapping methods to reduce disturbance.
Eradication of invasive alien crayfish: past experiences and further possibilities
Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

Sandodden, R.

2019
The EU regulation 1143/2014 “On the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species” entered into force on 1 January 2015. On 13 July 2016, the EU list of invasive alien species that require action was adopted. The list includes ?ve di?erent cray?sh species. Member states will be required to take measures for early detection and rapid eradication of these species. Except for some eradications performed in the United Kingdom and Norway, there has not been much e?ort put into eradication of invasive cray?sh species throughout Europe. The reasons for this are probably complex and di?er between member states. Are the main reasons legislative constraints, ability to eradicate or lack of knowledge and experience? Is eradication of alien cray?sh possible and desirable, and what is left to save in Europe? Focus could be put into identifying or creating island populations of special concern and preserve them for the future survival of European native cray?sh populations. Eradication measures should be considered as an option in this work. What are the experiences from completed eradication e?orts in Europe? Two cray?sh eradications have been performed in Norway, and both have been successful. The eradications were performed in locations with several ponds and small streams and performed using the synthetic pyrethroid-based pharmaceutical BETAMAX VET®. Both legislative and funding constraints seem less prominent as successful eradications have been con?rmed. Time will show if this trend will spread throughout Europe.